Celtic have been lauded by some of the world's best players and managers for the phenomenal atmosphere on Champions League nights.

The cacophony of noise which greets players under the Parkhead lights on the big Euro nights is the stuff of legend.

Despite still earning rave reviews from the opposition - playing the Hoops away from home is something teams no longer fear. Not only do Celtic boast a brilliant atmosphere, they had the results to boot in the world's biggest club competition.

That's no longer the case and they face another potentially humbling night against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

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The Hoops were as treacherous an away-day assignment you could draw in the Champions League.Their first 12 games in the group stage was as good as it gets. They bagged nine wins, two draws and lost only once when they fell short against Barcelona in 2004 as club icon Henrik Larsson came back to haunt his former side.

Those days of European dominance are a distant memory with four wins, three draws and five defeats in their last 12. Even more worrying is five defeats in their last seven.

There has been a resignation in recent campaigns that the gap between the world's best and the Premiership champions is bigger than ever. The really worry is if results don't improve then will the phenomenal noise eventually turn into a whimper?

In games against big boys Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern this season, Celtic have have barely laid a glove on their opponents.

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Brendan Rodgers' wildly successful spell in charge should allow him all the time in the world to get it right on the grandest of stages.

Some of Celtic's greatest successes in this competition have been built on a solid rearguard and players flying into every tackle to save the day ... the current team is more finesse than force.

Rodgers' refuses to change his principles and hasn't shut up shop in either shellacking against the two giants of the group. That confidence and belief may have worked against them, but it was also the catalyst in the 3-0 away win against Anderlecht.

The man who has guided Celtic to 62 games unbeaten domestically knows exactly what he is doing. Bayern are injury ravaged and a positive approach could well pay off tomorrow night.

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Some of Hoops' big wins in the group stage have been commanding performances where they have taken the game to their opposition. Famous victories against Juventus, Lyon and Benfica were earned with swashbuckling attacking football.

Rodgers knows a couple of tweaks here or there could be all that's needed as he looks to land his own signature Euro triumph. He's always fluid in terms of formation and he has plenty of options in terms of how he could line-up.

There's no doubt Patrick Roberts' injury is a blow, but James Forrest has looked impressive when he has been afforded opportunities this season. He is also better at doing the dirty work the Manchester City winger. He offers extra protection and could be asked to slow down French speed machine Kingsley Coman.

Tom Rogic and Moussa Dembele could be a pivotal duo (Image: SNS Group)

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Eboue Kouassi was in danger of becoming Celtic's forgotten man before Saturday's impressive performance Kilmarnock. He looked excellent during several pre-season displays and perhaps both the Ivorian and captain Scott Brown could link up to form a solid pair protecting the backline against some of the world's most talented players.

The main reasons for Celtic's confidence is the return of talisman Moussa Dembele. Leigh Griffiths is a great striker, but the Frenchman offers so much in these big games and his stunning Champions League showings last season led to a host of top European clubs showing interest in him.

His ability to take the ball in tight situations and bring his supporting cast into the game is priceless. Dembele has the ability to cause the Bayern backline all sorts of problems.

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One other player to look out for Tom Rogic. The Australian playmaker has the innate ability to take his team 10 yards further forward with the positions he takes up and his ability to travel with ball in his own languid way.

He was honking against Kilmarnock at the weekend, but this could be the exact type of game where he can find space on the attack and wreak havoc in the final third.

Bayern are toiling with four of their key players absent. Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski will all miss out and that should give the home team plenty of belief they can make some Parkhead noise once again.

Celtic fans should rightly be proud of the atmosphere they create, but the players are long overdue in giving them something to really shout about on the pitch.